United Baptist Church mission work in West Virginia

In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranked West Virginia as the second poorest state in the nation, with 18 percent of its residents living below the federal poverty level.

One Gastonia church aims to hit the problem head on – with pots, pans and elbow grease.

This month, a team from United Baptist Church will travel to McDowell County in West Virginia. It is one of the poorest counties in the U.S., with more than 33 percent of its citizens living below the poverty line, according to the 2010 U.S. census.

“We have been working in West Virginia now for some time and have been so blessed in sending clothes, kitchen items, toys and coats for those in need,” said Kelly Lowe, pastor at United Baptist Church. “We have been going up every year the weekend after Thanksgiving and trying to bless those less fortunate than ourselves and that has grown in to making extra trips now to do what we can.”

UBC mission team members who have traveled to McDowell County before say that working with West Virginians faced with such poverty is a life-changing experience.

“It’s a mission field of physical and spiritual needs,” said team member Mark Surkhram . “If you think you are poor, go there.”

United Baptist Church is partnering with the Appalachian Light Ministry and Newell Baptist Church of Charlotte to establish an outreach in Iaeger, W. Va., called Little Sparrow Ministry. In addition to helping the residents of Iaeger through food and clothes giveaways and community outreach projects, Little Sparrow will function as a housing facility for future missionaries working in McDowell County.

The southernmost county in West Virginia, McDowell was once home to a booming coal mining industry, but when mines began playing out in the 1980s, jobs disappeared. And with the loss of jobs came a bleakness borne out in CDC statistics: life expectancy for a male baby born in McDowell county is now shorter than that of children born in 34 of the world's poorest developing countries, and serious health problems are commonplace for a community of ex-miners and their families where many can’t afford basic medical care or simple home repairs.

“ Gastonians know more than a little about layoffs and industry closings," said Brandon Williams, a local musician who works with UBC. “But few of us will ever face the situation the people in McDowell County live with everyday. We have the privilege to share some of our blessings with them.”

Williams plans to give a free CD to anyone who donates pots, pans and other kitchen supplies for Little Sparrow’s mission facility and the residents of McDowell County.

But the most important thing local folks can do to help the mission team, Lowe said, is pray. That’s what he is doing to prepare for the trip.

“I pray, pray, pray,” Lowe said. “I pray that we make a difference in just one life or many. I pray for each giver, each receiver, and that through the gifts they receive they know it is given by Jesus Christ and his love in us.”

WANT TO HELP?

New or used pots, pans and kitchen utensils can be dropped off from 9 to 11 a.m. March 17 at United Baptist Church, 1970 Lowell-Bethesda Road, Gastonia. The church asks the public to pray for the team as they minister in West Virginia March 21-23.